The father of caged Liverpool fan Michael Shields has told of devastation at the Justice Secretary's decision NOT to grant a royal pardon to his son.
The Justice Secretary has been widely expected to sweep aside the 2005 conviction of the Liverpool fan for attempted murder in Bulgaria.
Michael, 22, has been eligible for the pardon since last December when the High Court ruled that it would be legal under UK law.
Today Michael Shields Snr slammed Justice Secretary Jack Straw's decision called his investigation "a farce"
Speaking from outside his family home, Michael Shields snr said: "I am devastated and heartbroken, who is going to sit up and listen to us now?
"The way this investigation has been conducted by the British government is just a farce.
"Mr Straw said he never had the power in 2007 and we took him to the High Court last year.
"I've spoke to Michael, earlier on the phone. He is not doing to good but he is baring up.
"He has been through so much, I think he needs to take a bit of time for this to sink in with him.
"We had faith in our own government and they have let us down big time.
"I thought once we got Michael back in England that his own country would stand up for him. But how wrong was I?
"I am disappointed with Gordon Brown too."
"He said the Justice Minister will make an announcement before the end of June and he has gone over that deadline.
"We definitely thought that Mr Straw was going to do the right thing and pardon MichaeI.
"My wife is not too good at the moment, we are just waiting for the doctor to come, because she collapsed when she heared the news.
"We built our hopes up thinking this is the end.
"I would just like to say the perpetrators who carried out this attack, I hope you can walk around with your heads up.
"Only you know. If wasn't for you carrying out this attack in Bulgaria my son wouldn't be where he is now.
"This campaign is big in Liverpool and it will continue to get bigger now after this decision.
"The evidence that was presented in Bulgaira to the court wouldn't have even been looked at in this country.
"The overwhelming evidence that Michael was innocent was unbelievable, and for some unknown reason the Bulgarian's went on with the trial.
"No DNA no nothing, another man confessing to this crime, how can any court in any land in 2005 consider a person on no evidence.
"He was on his own in the prison, he got a phone call off one of the governors and they presented Michael with this dossier.
"Can you imagine how he feels? He has been sitting there all alone for four years, without his family round him.
"He thought he was coming home but someone called Mr Straw has thrown it back in our face.
"He has all the evidence there, that Michael didn't do it.
"He passed a lie detector test, someone else confessed the crime, what more do they need?
"We have done everything in our power, we have conducted ourselves, we have everyone fighting for us.
"I am inviting Mr. Straw to come down to my house and sit down with me and my wife and ask us how we feel.
"If he is a human being, come and sit with us and explain what you have been doing for the last six months.
"It is Michael that has kept us going through all this."
Speaking outside the the Shields family solicitor John Weate claims Jack Straw must not be in the right mind to have come to such a decision.
Mr Weate said: "A 57 page document which is a provisional assessment as opposed to the final decision has been sent which is very disappointing.
"Ever since the judicial revue in December of 2008 we have been trying to engage with the Ministry Of Justice to hold ourselves available to be included in discussions and the considerations but we have never been given that opportunity.
"We are all very frustrated and no doubt extremely disappointed and angry as far as the decision goes.
"We disagree with the Ministry's statement saying the bar for a free pardon has not been met.
"The evidence is overwhelming and any right minded person who has looked at that evidence would see that to be the case.
"We should all be feeling for Michael Shields right now as he will have this huge disappointment that he will have to try and go to sleep with tonight that this decision has gone against him.
"Young Michael telephoned me to tell me the decision. He was the very first person to know as it appears the Ministry of Justice didn't see fit to tell Michael through his legal team of his family.
"He was left on his own to read the news for himself in the company of prison officers and that is something that we feel shows a complete disregard for the young man, his family and the whole process we are engaged in.
"He was very subdued and didn't show any anger or frustration on the phone but he was desperate to speak to his mum and dad."
Labour Cllr Joe Anderson claims he is ashamed to be a member of the Labour Party and vows to keep fighting justice no matter how long it takes.
Mr Anderson said: "This has come from a senior member of the Labour Party and it is an absolute appalling decision.
"Michael and Marie are devastated and really upset and after hearing the news we had to call for medical assistance as Marie past out. She is just distraught.
"This is not only because of the way Jack Straw has behaved but the way they have gone about this business today.
"Michael's family and the legal team only found out through the press and that is a shame the ministry behaved in such a way.
"Everyone had built up so much hope after they were told they had the power to release young Michael and even with Jack Straw having the power he still hasn't.
"We have been here before so there was always a doubt in my mind that Michael would once again be refused and that is a shame.
"Mr Straw has said it is a provisional decision and asked us to provide more evidence in a month but I don't know where we are supposed to find anymore as Jack Straw has a huge dossier of evidence proving Mike wasn't even there.
"If he cannot make a decision based on the evidence we have given him then what he expects in another month is ridiculous.
"I am appalled he would suggest that this is a provisional.
"What he should have done today is make a final decision which should have been to release Michael Shields and shame on him for not doing that.
"I am ashamed to be a Labour Party member and a Government who can behave in such a way.
"The campaign will continue no matter how long it takes to prove Michael Shields was innocent."
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